Golf club head having decorated hosel and golf club using the same

ABSTRACT

A golf club head includes a hosel in which a brilliant three-dimensional decoration member is fixed to a surface of the hosel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf club head having a decorated hosel and a golf club using the golf club head, and particularly, to a golf club head having a hosel characterized by a brilliant, three-dimensional decorative member fixed to a surface of the hosel and a golf club using the golf club head.

2. Description of the Related Art

A portion of a golf club head connected to a shaft is called a hosel or a neck. A hole for use in connection with the tip end of a shaft is usually formed inside of a cylindrical shape.

As mentioned above, the hosel is a portion used for adhesively fixing a face for use in hitting a ball to the tip end of the shaft and usually formed from the same material as that of a head integrally with the head. The appearance of the hosel has hitherto been provided with no decoration and is devoid of a design or ornamental characteristic.

A decorated hosel is disclosed in which calibration marks are formed in a face surface of the hosel at an arbitrary angle with respect to the axial direction of a shaft and at intervals along a circumferential direction of the shaft in order to allow a golfer to determine the state of an address; and in which the calibration marks are made in the hosel in the form of a groove; provided on the hosel in the form of protruding streaks; drawn with paint; or made by means of coating interior surfaces of grooves formed in the hosel with paint, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3006951.

In relation to a ferrule (also called a “socket”), there has already been proposed a decorated socket in which a decorated ring is fixed to an appropriate point in the axial cross section of a socket pipe in order to enhance a decorative characteristic of the ferrule or the golf club and in which the decorated ring is formed integrally by means of sandwiching a metallic-colored intermediate layer, such as metal foil, between a small-diameter tube section made of a synthetic resin and a large-diameter tube section made of a synthetic resin, as disclosed in JP-UM-B-55-21710. There has also been proposed a socket in which metal decoration rings are interposed among split cylindrical elements of a socket main body formed so as to become split in an axial direction thereof, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3103748.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the hosel described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3006951 is merely machined in consideration of practical utility; namely, the ease of determination of an address state, and cannot be said to be decorated. The hosel does not have any gorgeousness or sumptuousness and is devoid of a design or ornamental characteristic.

Likewise, the related-art ferrule and the related-art golf club described in JP-UM-B-55-21710 and Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3103748 are provided with a simple design such as a chain of ring-shaped patterns. They are devoid of a design or ornamental characteristic, either; do not show gorgeousness or sumptuousness; are inconspicuous; and exhibit an indistinctive design characteristic and yield a low ornamental effect.

Further, the related-art ferrule is split, and decoration rings are interposed among the split pieces of the ferrule. Hence, the related-art ferrule has low strength, and there has been a drawback of a ferrule of a golf club being easily broken. Moreover, the ferrule is formed through a plurality of processes and suffers a drawback of complicated manufacturing processes and an increase in cost.

In particular, in association with a recent increase in the number of female golfers, fashionable golf products, such as wear or accessories, have been offered, and the golfers enjoy fashionableness, too. In contrast, a golf club has been developed to pursue only functionality and lacks an ornamental characteristic. Hence, the golf club cannot be used with an ornamental pleasure.

Therefore, the present invention aims at solving the drawbacks in the related art and providing a golf club with decoration without involvement of a decrease in strength, thereby offering a golf club which exhibits a high ornamental effect; which can be manufactured readily, inexpensively; which radiates brilliance, to thus attracts attention; and which enables usage of the club with an ornamental pleasure, and offering a golf club head having a hosel for use with the golf club.

In order to serve as means for solving the drawback, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf club head including a hosel in which a brilliant three-dimensional decoration member is fixed to a surface of the hosel.

Further, according to a second aspect of the invention according the first aspect of the invention, a concave portion is formed on a part of the surface of the hosel; and the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member is fixed in the concave portion.

Further, according to a third aspect of the invention according the second aspect of the invention, the concave portion is formed over a circumference of the hosel.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the invention according the second or third aspect of the invention, the concave portion has a width of from 2 to 5 mm in a shorter side direction and has a depth of from 0.2 to 2 mm.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the invention according any one of the first to fourth aspect of the invention, the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member has a width of from 0.5 to 3 mm.

Further, according to a sixth aspect of the invention according any one of the first to fifth aspect of the invention, the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member includes at least one of a transparent resinous granular article and a metal granular article.

Further, according to a seventh aspect of the invention according the sixth aspect of the invention, the transparent resinous granular article is faintly colored.

Further, according to a eighth aspect of the invention according the sixth or seventh aspect of the invention, a resin constituting the transparent resinous granular article is an acryl resin.

Further, according to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf club including any one of the golf club head according to any one of the first to eighth aspect of the invention.

According to the present invention described above, a brilliant three-dimensional decoration member is fixed to a surface of the hosel. As a result, an ornament can be provided readily, inexpensively without involvement of a decrease in strength. By means of radiation of brilliance, a design characteristic and an ornamental effect can be enhanced, so that a golf club which noticeably attracts attention and can be used with a pleasure can be provided.

Further, an concave portion is formed in a portion of the surface of the hosel, and the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member is fixed to the concave portion. Accordingly, the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member becomes difficult to exfoliate, and enhanced fixing strength can have been achieved. Further, an attempt can have been made to reduce the overall weight of the head. A decrease in the weight of the hosel enables lowering of the centroid of the head and design of wide-range distribution of weight become feasible. Enlargement of a sweet area, or the like, and an increase in the degree of freedom of a design can be attained.

Since the concave portion is provided along a circumference of the hosel, the appearance of the club head is enhanced, and the design characteristic of the golf club head can be improved.

Further, a shorter width of the concave portion ranges from 2 mm to 5 mm, and a depth of the concave portion ranges from 0.2 mm to 2 mm. Accordingly, fixing of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member has become easy and reliable.

The width of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member ranges from 0.5 mm to 3 mm. Consequently, the design characteristic and the ornamental effect can be enhanced without posing difficulty in playing of a golf.

Since the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member corresponds to transparent granular plastic and/or a granular metallic substance, further enhancement of the design characteristic can have been achieved by radiation of further brilliance.

Since the transparent granular plastic is pale-colored, further enhancement of the design characteristic can have been achieved by radiation of further brilliance.

Since resin of the transparent granular plastic corresponds to an acrylic resin, the resin becomes less susceptible to discoloration, so that the resin can radiate greater brilliance over a long period of time has become feasible.

Since a golf club includes any one of the ferrules, the golf club has become possible to yield advantages such as those mentioned above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a golf club head of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially-enlarged view of a hosel of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3D are perspective views showing the shape of a concave portion of the hosel of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A shows a concave portion formed along a circumference, FIG. 3B shows a concave portion forming a portion of the circumference, FIG. 3C shows a vertically-elongated concave portion, and FIG. 3D shows a rectangular or circular concave portion;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are partial side views of the golf club head of the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A shows a configuration of the head which is not provided with a concave portion, FIG. 4B shows a configuration of the head in which a decoration member protrudes from the concave portion, and FIG. 4C shows a configuration of the head in which the decoration member is fully buried in the recess;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the golf club of the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described in detail hereunder by reference to the drawings. In a golf club 10, a grip 3 is attached to an upper end of a shaft 2, and a lower end of the shaft 2 is inserted into an insert hole 19 formed in a hosel 41 formed integrally with a head 4. A ferrule 1 is attached so as to cover the lower end of the shaft 2 inserted into the hosel 41. There may also be used the head 4 assembled by fitting the hosel 41 formed separately from a head main body 49 to the head main body 49. A concave portion 7 is formed in the surface of the hosel 41, and a brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 is fixed to the concave portion 7 by way of an adhesive layer 9. The brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 is to form a decoration element which decorates the hosel 41. The decoration member 6 may also be used alone, or a plurality of decoration members may also be used as an ornament having a single pattern such as a floral pattern, a continual pattern, and the like.

The hosel 41 is an element for use in adhesively fixing the tip end of the shaft 2 to a face 45 used for hitting a ball. The length of the hosel 41 which enables superior adhesion of the shaft 2 preferably ranges from 10 mm to 60 mm. In the case of a golf club head involving a slow head speed, such as a putter head, the shaft can be sufficiently fixed even at a length of 10 mm or thereabouts. However, in the case of a wood golf club head involving a high head speed, such as an ordinary driver, the length (depth) L of the insert hole 19 in the hosel 41 ranges from 30 mm to 60 mm. In the case of an iron golf club head involving an intermediate speed between the head speed of the putter head and the head speed of the driver, the length of the insert hole ranges from 20 mm to 35 mm.

For these reasons, impact force is exerted on a connection 43 between the face 45 and the hosel 41, and hence the thickness of the connection 43 must be increased to withstand the impact. Incidentally, the upper end of the hosel 41 requires a length which enables connection of the shaft 2, but a thickness which is smaller than the thickness of the connection 43 between the face 45 and the hosel 41 is sufficient for the upper end in view of strength. Therefore, the concave portion 7 is desirably provided at a position which is located inwardly below 3 mm to 20 mm from the upper end of the hosel 41.

Granular plastic exhibiting reflectance and brilliance; especially, transparent granular plastic, a metallic granular substance, glass, gems, imitation jewelry, and the like, can be used as the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6. Alternatively, plastic made by coating them with resin or metal, a chain made by connecting them through use of metal, and the like, is also available.

No particular limitations are imposed on resin used for granular plastic and any granular plastic can be used, so long as the resin exhibits reflectance and brilliance. Use of resin exhibiting transparency, more particularly pale-colored resin, preferably enables radiation of brilliance and enhancement of design and ornamental characteristics. Alternatively, acrylic plastic exhibiting high transparency and involving little discoloration is particularly preferable. Alternatively, common urethane resin exhibits flexibility and is preferable. However, the urethane resin becomes yellowed after lapse of a long period of time. For this reason, use of urethane resin of the type which is less apt to yellow is desirable.

Two-pack polyurethane resin is mentioned as urethane resin. This resin is cold setting resin which involves, at the time of use of resin, mixing of polyol serving as a base resin with polyisocyanate serving as a curing agent. Polyol to be used includes acrylic polyol having a hydroxyl group in molecules, polyester polyol, polyether polyol, polyurethane polyol, and the like. Polyisocyanate pre-polymer includes a large number of types according to isocyanate used as a raw material. Among them, aromatic isocyanate-based polymers are generally likely to become yellowed upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation and hence undesirable. However, xylylene-diisocyanate-based polymers, isophorone-diisocyanate-based polymers, and hexamethylene-diisocyanate-based polymers are characterized as being less apt to yellow.

Moreover, a metallic granular substance is usually greater than resin in terms of specific gravity. Hence, it may be the case where the quantity of metallic granular substance used for fixing affects the weight of a club head, the balance of a club head, or the like. Hence, metal having comparatively-small specific gravity; e.g., aluminum or titanium, is preferably used as the metallic granular substance.

Moreover, because of analogous reasons, granular plastics coated with a metallic film can also be used as a metallic granular substance. Light metals, such as aluminum, titanium, and the like, are preferable as a metal film. For instance, an urethane-based elastomer is coated with aluminum, or acrylic resin is coated with titanium, thereby imparting metallic gloss to the elastomer and making the elastomer brilliant.

Line stone can be used preferably as imitation jewelry. The line stone is imitation jewelry made of glass and can be formed in various colors, such as blue, red, green, violet, or the like, by mixing gold, iron, manganese, or the like with glass.

In the case of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 exhibiting transparency, reflection is enhanced by affixing metal on the back of the member, whereby the decoration member preferably becomes more brilliant.

No specific limitations are imposed on the shape of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 within a range where the decoration member is fitted into the concave portion 7. A surface of the decoration member opposite an adhesion surface thereof; namely, a front surface, is provided with a curve such as a part of a sphere, or a plurality of facets such as facets of diamond, whereby the appearance of the decoration member can be made beautiful by utilization of reflection of light. Alternatively, the back surface of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6; namely, the surface of the decoration member opposing the hosel 41, may be plane. However, the surface preferably assumes a uniform concave surface matching the concave curve of the opposing hosel 41; namely, a bottom surface 71 of the concave portion 7. The reason for this is that, by means of such a configuration, bonding is facilitated, and fixing strength is enhanced.

No specific limitations are imposed on the vertical and horizontal widths of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6. However, the vertical and horizontal widths of each of granular substances are preferably set so as to fall within a range from 0.5 mm to 3 mm. The reason why the widths are made narrow is that, since the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 is affixed on a circumference of the cylindrical hosel 41, an adhesive portion to be affixed cannot fix the decoration member when the widths are excessively large; particularly, when the back of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 is flat, lift arises in right and left edges of the decoration member, which readily exfoliate the decoration member. The vertical width and/or the horizontal width of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 may also be made identical with the vertical width of the concave portion 7, and the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 may be fitted to the concave portion 7, to thus enhance fixing strength.

The concave portion 7 formed in a portion of the surface of the hosel 41 is provided for making the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 difficult to exfoliate by means of fixing the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 to the concave portion 7, thereby enhancing fixing strength. By means of such a configuration, removal of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6, which would otherwise be caused as a result of being caught; for example, when a golf club is pulled out of a golf bag or the like, can be prevented.

Limitations are not particularly imposed on the shape, number, and position of the concave portion 7. The essential requirement is to provide the desired number of a concave portion having a desired shape at a desired location. As shown in FIG. 3A, the concave portion 7 may be provided on the circumference of the hosel 41. As shown in FIG. 3B, the concave portion may also be provided in a portion of the circumference of the hosel 41. As shown in FIG. 3C, the concave portion may also be vertically provided over a long area of the hosel 41. As shown in FIG. 3D, the concave portion may also be provided in a rectangular or circular shape. A C-shaped cross-sectional profile, or the like, can be adopted as a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the concave portion 7. Moreover, the concave portion can also be configured by appropriate combination of these shapes. In particular, when such an concave portion is provided along the circumference of the hosel 41, good appearance is preferably achieved. Alternatively, a bottom 71 of the concave portion 7; namely, a face of the concave portion 7 opposing the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6, is formed so as to assume a linear shape when viewed sideways. This facilitates affixation of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6, so that the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 is stably fixed.

When the vertical width of the concave portion 7 is too narrow, the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 becomes difficult to affix. In contrast, when the vertical width of the concave portion 7 is too large, a junction between the hosel 41 and the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 undesirably becomes likely to catch an external substance. Accordingly, the vertical width W of the concave portion 7 is preferably set so as to fall within a range from 2 mm to 5 mm.

When the thickness N of the concave portion 7 has come to 0.8 mm or less as result of the concave portion having been recessed deeply, it may be the case where a low thickness portion undesirably bends when the tip end of the shaft 2 is inserted. Accordingly, the depth D of the concave portion 7 preferably falls within a range from 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

Moreover, the relationship between the depth D of the concave portion 7 and the height of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 is not limited particularly. When the depth D of the concave portion 7 is greater than the thickness of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6, difficulty is encountered in affixing the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6. Conversely, when the depth D of the concave portion 7 is smaller than the thickness of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6, the decoration member becomes apt to contact an external substance and likely to become exfoliated. For these reasons, as shown in FIG. 4B, a desired depth of the concave portion 7 is one which allows slight raise of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6. However, as shown in FIG. 4C, the depth of the concave portion 7 is preferably set to such a level at which the depth is slightly greater than the thickness of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 and at which the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 becomes fully buried in the concave portion 7.

When the golf club head 4 is formed by means of casting and when the concave portion 7 of the hosel 41 is provided along the circumference, an internal area of a mold corresponding to the concave portion 7 becomes narrow, which worsens flow of molten metal. For this reason, according to a method which provides superior yields and is desirable because of ease of manufacture, an area of the mold corresponding to the concave portion 7 is partially removed such that the upper end of the hosel 41 is connected to the head main body 49 at an ordinary thickness. The club head 4 which has been removed from the mold and in which the concave portion 7 has not yet been formed along the circumference of the club head is machined through post-processing, thereby forming the concave portion 7 along the circumference. Moreover, when the concave portion 7 is cut in a post-processing process, corners of a protruding area of the mold used for creating the concave portion 7 are desirably rounded, to thus facilitate flow of molten metal. When the iron golf club head 4 is created by means of casting, it may also be better to perform casting in such a way that an concave portion is previously created in an area of the hosel 41 where the concave portion 7 is to be created; and to machine the thus-created concave portion into the concave portion 7 of a desired shape.

In relation to bonding of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 to the hosel 41, there can be used a method for previously applying an adhesive on the back surface of the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 and fusing the adhesive by means of ultrasonic vibration or heating, a method for welding the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 without use of an adhesive and by means of ultrasonic vibration or heating when the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 is made of resin, or the like, in addition to use of a method for providing an adhesive layer 9 by means of applying an adhesive to the hosel 41 and press-fitting the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 onto the adhesive layer 9. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, a flexible sheet 8 made of a synthetic resin, or the like, into a shape fitting the concave portion 7 can be used. The brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 is previously affixed to the entire surface of the flexible sheet 8 by a method, such as that mentioned previously, and the adhesive layer 9 is provided on the other surface of the flexible sheet 8, whereby the flexible sheet 8 is bonded to the hosel 41. In this case, the shape of a floral pattern, or the like, and a series of pattern, such as a continual pattern or the like, can have been created in advance by use of the plurality of brilliant three-dimensional decoration members 6. Accordingly, manufacture of the decoration member is facilitated and made easier.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member 6 may also be fixed directly without forming a concave portion in the surface of the hosel 41.

The present invention is practiced in connection with the iron golf club 10. First, the head is created from SUS630 (stainless steel) by means of the lost wax casting technique. A metal ingate is positioned on a tow side of the hosel. In order to make flow of molten metal to the hosel 41 easy, a concave portion which is to form a portion of the concave portion 7 is created in an area of the hosel 41 except the tow side and a heel side of the hosel. The concave portion 7 is machined from a position 5 mm away from the upper edge of the hosel 41 downwardly to assume a width of 4 mm and a depth of 1 mm. A cutting tool used for boring purpose and a cutting tool used for scraping are different from each other. Hence, it is better to create a portion of the concave portion in advance. The reason for this is that, since machining can be performed without replacement of the cutting tool, machining is facilitated.

The outer diameter of the hosel is formed to 13.5 mm, and the inner diameter of the hosel is formed to 9.2 mm. The extremity of the shaft is formed to assume a diameter of 9.0 mm including the thickness of coating. A paint area on an tip end of the shaft 2 fitted into the hosel 41 is cut away by means of sandpaper. Next, the ferrule 1 is inserted from the tip end of the shaft 2 to an appropriate location (separated form the tip end by 28 mm). The tip end of the shaft 2 is inserted into the insert hole 19 of the hosel 41 and adhesively fixed. The shaft 2 is inserted to a length of 28 mm.

After full adhesive fixing of the shaft 2 and the head 4, an adhesive is applied to the concave portion 7, and six granular substances, which are pale-colored; which are made of clear acrylic resin and have multi-facets, such as facets of diamond; and which have vertical and horizontal widths of about 2.5 mm, are affixed to the concave portion 7 of the hosel 41.

Consequently, there is acquired a golf club with decoration without involvement of a decrease in strength, thereby offering a golf club which exhibits a high ornamental effect; which can be manufactured readily, inexpensively; which radiates brilliance, to thus attracts attention; and which enables usage of the club with an ornamental pleasure. 

1. A golf club head comprising a hosel in which a brilliant three-dimensional decoration member is fixed to a surface of the hosel.
 2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein: a concave portion is formed on a part of the surface of the hosel; and the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member is fixed in the concave portion.
 3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion is formed over a circumference of the hosel.
 4. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion has a width of from 2 to 5 mm in a shorter side direction and has a depth of from 0.2 to 2 mm.
 5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member has a width of from 0.5 to 3 mm.
 6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the brilliant three-dimensional decoration member includes at least one of a transparent resinous granular article and a metal granular article.
 7. The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the transparent resinous granular article is faintly colored.
 8. The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein a resin constituting the transparent resinous granular article is an acryl resin.
 9. A golf club comprising a golf club head including a hosel in which a brilliant three-dimensional decoration member is fixed to a surface of the hosel. 